Leo Lewis was an offensive weapon in college at Missouri, seeing time rushing receiving and punt returning.
Played for the Tigers from 1975-’78.
Over college career amassed 82 receptions for 1043 yards and 9 TDs, 17 carries for 104 yards and 2 TDs, and returned 51 punts for 468 yards.
Undrafted he played in Canada for a season splitting time with the Calgary Stampeders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1980.
Signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 1981.
Had most successful season in 1984, catching 47 passes for 834 yards and 4 TDs for the Vikings.
Doubled as the team’s primary punt returner in 1988 and ’89.
Led league with 58 returns (550 yards) in ’88, and had another 44 in ’89.
Split the 1990 campaign with the Browns and Vikings.
Retired after the 1991 season and 11 seasons with the Vikings.
Caught 182 passes for 2924 yards and 16 TDs while returning 49 punts for 1868 yards and a TD.
Vikings Director of Player Development from 1992-’05
Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Development at the University of Minnesota from 2005-’14.
NOTES:
Leo appeared early on in the Topps sets before the big boom of cards. I was surprised that he didn’t appear in Pro Set or Fleer for that matter near the tail end of his career, so I was happy to see that there was a Score 1990 floating around of him. He has a great autograph and I was a bit disappointed he wasn’t my first return of 2026.
Leo appeared in the classic Nintendo game Tecmo Bowl as a member of the Minnesota Monsters franchise and is a fantastic punt and kick returner.
Joe Mathis played OLB at Washington from 2013-’16.
Posted 15.5 TFLs, nine sacks and two forced fumbles before suffering a year-ending toe ligament tear injury in 2016.
The toe injury was… unusual… requiring 9 screws be inserted into his foot to squeeze a bone back together.
Initial diagnoses were optimistic at 6 weeks, but it turned into a year long rehab instead where he had to learn how to walk, jog and run again.
Over his college career he appeared in 41 contests.
Graded out as a DE/EDGE, and although his athletic skill set intrigued scouts, Mathis went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft due in part to lingering concerns about his recovery from his injury.
Received an invitation to come to a mini-camp with the Houston Texas, but failed the physical exam because of his foot.
Ended up joining the CFL British Columbia Lions as an import player, but didn’t make the squad.
Spotted at the Huskies 2018 pro day after fully recovering from the toe injury and looked swole, but didn’t draw any attention.
Joe kept the dream alive and has played pro ball in the Xleague for the Fujitsu Frontiers located in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
